Explorations

Like UMass, most of La Salle's wins this season have come against bad teams -- the combined record of those ten teams is 65-119, compared with a 62-99 record for the nine teams the Minutemen have defeated. Both teams have suffered an embarrassingly one-sided loss to a nationally-ranked regional rival, with the Explorers getting flat-out throttled by Villanova, to the tune of 98-57, a score that makes UMass' 29-point loss to BC seem competitive. Both teams have just three wins against teams that are .500 or better.

Unlike UMass, though, La Salle's wins have come against non-conference teams. What's more, beating up on patsies like St. Francis and Florida International doesn't appear to have worked as a "tune-up" either, given that La Salle has since plunged to a 2-4 conference record, in addition to losing five straight overall. Their wins, as Bogie would say, don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Haters can hollar all day about how the Minutemen have only beaten the teams they "should" beat -- at least those wins have put them in position to make a run at a Top-4 seed heading into the A-10 tournament (meaning a bye). As I write this, URI is losing to George Washington, which, if it holds, would mean a win over La Salle moves UMass into second place in conference. (Yeah, I know they'd be virtually tied with five other teams, so what?)

Beyond all that, this game is important because UMass has got to figure out how to win on the road: their two road wins so far (St. Peter's in Madison Square Garden and Duquesne) are rapidly becoming distant memories. Road confidence-builders are essential preparation for big February games at Temple, GW, and Florida State.